Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 077 On My Own

That title hits a little too close to home right now. Moving to a completely new place without any friends or acquaintances or family has me pretty wound up right now. While my husband was able to accompany me, he's gone to his ship now too, so I'm totally alone by this point. A little scary, I have to admit. But who knows, maybe reading about a character that's on their own too will help make me a little more relaxed about the whole situation.

Then again, considering how this chapter starts 9 hours into the Duelist Kingdom tournament at sunset and everyone is freaking out about where Mokuba could have gone to has me a little more stressed than not. How could you guys lose the Murder Child? How?? Anzu asks if anyone thinks that Vlad the Hair Impaler took Mokuba to the castle, and Jonouchi asks what they're supposed to do to help Mokuba now. Yami looks off into the distance, where Pegasus's castle is clearly visible on its hill. He says they'll just have to collect the rest of their star chips and get to the castle. Jonouchi agrees. No point in crying over spilled milk, I suppose. Or kidnapped children, either, because those two things are totally equivalent. Sure.

Yeeeeeaaaaaah, better get on that. A handy dandy map on the next two pages not only shows the major players in the arc by this point (Kaiba, Mai, Pegasus, Mokuba, and the Big Five), but also tells us that there are only 29 duelists left in the tournament, so Jonouchi needs to get his ass in gear in order to get more of those sweet chips. Otherwise he'll be forced to duel his friend Yami for chips, and we all know how that would turn out.

Elsewhere on the island, Mai is holed up in another booth, winning another game with her harpies' "Triangle Ecstasy Spark", an attack name that makes me slightly uncomfortable. She's yawning as her opponent is screaming dramatically, totally bored. She's resting her head on the heel of her hand, asking if he's happy now. Well, since you won, girl, I'm guessing he's not very happy at all. Regardless, she's not really listening for an answer. She just tells him to leave his star chips on the dresser table and not to let the door hit him on his ass.

The guy is crying because he's out of the tournament now, but Mai has no sympathy. She just sighs, bored and unable to enjoy her victory.

It's so weird that the guy the last chapter was making out to be a total moron is the same guy whose wisdom is being obsessed over in this one.

Mai growls, even less happy now that Jonouchi has infiltrated her mind with his simple riddle. It also pisses her off that she should have lost to him before the whole world blew up, because the world shouldn't be able to go on without her winning. She fumes about how she doesn't know what he meant by those words, and just continues to grind her teeth in irritation while muttering to herself about it.

Who should happen upon her while she's doing something so embarrassing than Ryuzaki, who points and glares at her, announcing that he's finally found her. She looks over her shoulder, an exasperated expression on her face as he begins to rant about how he's the greatest duelist in the world and she managed to make a fool of him on the ship regardless. She grinds the heel of her hand on her forehead, because Ryuzaki is yet another headache she has to deal with now.

Ryuzaki demands that she duel him again right there, but Mai tells him to get lost, because she's not interested in playing someone she's already beaten before. Ryuzaki hunches and clenches his fists, growling about how she must be making fun of him again and how dare she talk to him like that. Like the petulant child he is, he yells at her that she should remember he was the runner-up in the national tournament and brags that he has five star chips already. She's clutching her head at the temple like she's having the worst migraine right now.

Mai smiles at his shock, shoving the math of only needing two more star chips to get into the castle in his face. She tells him he shouldn't worry about her playing him for her last chips, though, because she's already decided who she wants to get them from, and it won't be a loser like him. Ryuzaki asks her who it is, but guesses "Yuugi" before she can answer and vows to be the one to beat that guy. Mai says that there's another guy she wants to take down before she faces Yuugi, thinking of Jonouchi, of course.

Ryuzaki doesn't have anything to say to this, so continues to grit his teeth and seethe. As she watches him do so, Mai has an idea.

I guess, if you've GOT TO get another shot at her. I wouldn't bother, personally, but then again I'm not a teenage boy who got the shit manipulated out of him by way of hormones, so there's that to consider too.

Ryuzaki agrees to do it, asking who it is that she hates so much as to insist he beat them for her. She tells him to come with her as she stands, and turns briefly to inform Ryuzaki that he has to be her slave until he wins his freedom by winning against her mystery opponent. Ryuzaki is indignant, but Mai doesn't seem at all bothered by his completely legitimate protests. She interrupts him in the middle of this to ask him if HE knows the answer to Jonouchi's riddle, and he looks at her like she's lost her mind, wondering if this is some sort of test or quiz. If that schoolboy conclusion isn't enough to convince you that he is a LITERAL baby, he grows a grin in the next panel and says that the answer is obviously takoyaki.

LITERAL BABY.

They walk off, Mai regretting asking the question and calling him her slave, and Ryuzaki pisses and moans about her bossy tone.

The kid he's posing this question to is leaning away from him, probably because he looks a little like a weird guy offering someone candy out of an unmarked windowless van here. The kid asks if that's Yuugi Jonouchi is with, and turns down the offer with the excuse that he really doesn't want to have to duel Yuugi next. The he bolts, leaving Jonouchi to lament that this was the fourth time he got rejected for a duel due to potential opponents being intimidated by Yami. Anzu says they see Yami's face and just run, and Yami calls them cowards for it.

Anzu looks down at him with a slight blush, thinking it feels kind of good to be friends with the guy everyone's afraid of. I suppose if you're into the "mob boss" aesthetic, Anzu.

Bakura declares it an official problem that they can't find anyone who will play Jonouchi. Thanks for the press-release, Mr. President. Honda thinks it's a bad idea to let Jonouchi go search for an opponent by himself too, because he'll probably get fucked without them there to cheer him on. Jonouchi tells him to shut up, because he doesn't see Honda playing for chips. What does that asshole know anyway?

A laugh that Jonouchi recognizes enough to flinch at sounds behind him.

If he seems a little more cringy than seems warranted, don't worry. He's just reacting appropriately to his own terrible double entendre.

Mai does HARP on about how she sees the friends are still all attached at the hip and surmises that they were all ducklings in a past life. Jonouchi is pissed that he should be even marginally connected to a duckling, and I'm not sure why. Mai turns to Yami and says that he probably would have been at the castle long ago if it weren't for this gaggle of morons trailing after him all day. He doesn't say anything out loud, leaving an unfinished statement about this woman in his head.

Mai picks up on this and decides to back off of Yami, because she doesn't want to fight him just yet. She points at her real target, Jonouchi, whom she says beat her last time, but will have to duel her slave this time. Jonouchi looks annoyed as he asks about this slave, and Mai makes a gesture toward Ryuzaki stepping out from behind a tree, like she's a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Ta Da and everything. Ryuzaki chuckles, cordially greeting Yami and asking Jonouchi how he's doing.

Yami automatically doesn't like the look of this, listing off Ryuzaki's credentials in his head and questioning whether or not Jonouchi can beat him. Jonouchi isn't so concerned as Yami, rather determined instead, declaring that he'll take on Ryuzaki with a raised fist, grinding teeth, and spectral fire surrounding him. He's so dramatic. Ryuzaki thinks he's a real idiot, and that maybe he should be THANKING Mai for leading him to such an easy target.

Honda begs Jonouchi to stop and think about it before he accepts the challenge, but Jonouchi just repeats that he's no duckling, despite the fact that no one called him that again. Because he's so fixated on this simple taunt of hers, Mai thinks he's an awfully simple guy. Almost as simple as someone who obsesses over a riddle at the beginning of a chapter, huh Mai? She thinks playing Jonouchi again to win her last two chips would be immature for some unknown reason, and decides that if Ryuzaki beats Jonouchi, and she beats Ryuzaki, she can say she beat them both.

Anzu is off to the side seething, wondering why Mai is targeting Jonouchi when it's so obvious she's afraid of losing to Yami. She smiles at Yami and thinks that he will support Jonouchi just the way he did the last time. Mai chuckles, Jonouchi insists that he'll take her up on the challenge she offers, and Yami mentally promises to Mai that he'll lead Jonouchi to victory once again. Careful boy, you're becoming a crutch...

Ryuzaki points to a duel booth on the top of a hill, asking if it's alright with Jonouchi to duel there. Jonouchi confirms he's good with the location, so Ryuzaki says he'll meet him there, followed by a simpering Mai who encourages her champion. Jonouchi watches them run to the booth for a moment, then asks Yami for a favor. Yami looks at him questioningly.

And this starts the chorus of bad friends being bad friends by asking what the hell he thinks he's saying, if he's nuts, and Ryuzaki not being someone Jonouchi can beat at his skill level. Jonouchi admits he thinks it's a dumb request too, because he's asking himself just why he said it. Jonouchi pauses, and Yami respectfully waits for him to speak again. Probably waiting for him to actually take it back. Jonouchi continues by saying that if he loses all his star chips in this duel, he won't be able to save his sister, but (big BUT here) he really wants to win on his own.

Everyone stares open-mouthed, except for Yami, who smiles. Jonouchi says he feels if he can win, so can Shizuka. Yami's smile widens, and he thinks he understands Jonouchi's need to win the duel by his own hands. So, he retreats, and Yuugi comes back out, to everyone's surprise. After all, he hasn't been out at ALL since they were on the ship. Seriously, Yami just hogged their body for himself this WHOLE TIME.

The first words out of Yuugi's mouth encourage his friends to cheer Jonouchi on with him. Anzu and Honda, flabbergasted, stutter out agreements. Jonouchi mentally thanks both Yuugi and Yami for their support, then announces that he's heading for the booth as he marches toward it. Anzu stares at Yuugi thrusting his fist into the air.

Anzu thinks that Yami is teaching Jonouchi confidence by staying out of the fight. I think he's probably just getting some damn rest. Again, he's been out since the previous night on the boat. I wouldn't be surprised if he was snoring in Yuugi's head right now.

Pushing Yuugi forward as she begins to run toward the box, Anzu urges Yuugi to come cheer with Jonouchi with her. Dude, that was HIS idea to begin with, while you were busy being less than supportive. Don't be a jerk.

Jonouchi's a little shifty-eyed in front of them, realizing that now that Yami is gone, he's really nervous. Still, he sits at the table across from Ryuzaki, and they hover their hands dramatically over their decks. Ryuzaki grins, but Jonouchi looks sober as a priest on Sunday. Mai calls through the glass that her slave should do his best, because there's a prize in it for him if he wins. Here's hoping it's not another predatory sexual offer.

Yuugi and pals tell Jonouchi he can do it, and to make those dinosaurs in Ryuzaki's deck extinct. Eco-terrorism is the answer to everything! Ryuzaki makes small talk about how lively their audience is before he asks Jonouchi how many star chips he's going to wager. Jonouchi slaps both of his chips on the table in front of him, and Ryuzaki puts two of his five down too. So far, he seems like a more polite and respectful opponent than Haga was. He explains to Jonouchi that the field is grassland and wasteland, and his dinosaurs get a power-up from the latter environment, then asks him if he's ready.

Jonouchi knows that Ryuzaki's deck has to be powerful for him to have taken the runner-up position in the national tournament, but Jonouchi also has the combo of Baby Dragon and Time Wizard that beat Mai. When Ryuzaki calls the start of the game, Jonouchi looks as ready as he could ever be to get this show on the road, placing his hand on his deck to draw just like Ryuzaki.

Yuugi calls for him to go for it and Mai shouts at her slave to beat Jonouchi while Jonouchi draws his hand. Two of his cards are already the combo he was only just thinking about, which pumps him up pretty hard because how awesomely lucky! He lets his luck get on the wrong side of his hubris right off the bat, though, when he grins and thinks he's already won.

That look on Ryuzaki's face is priceless. But he doesn't shit-talk about it at all, just plays his damn card. Maybe he's more mature than I first pegged him for. I feel kind of bad for calling him a baby earlier now...

Anyway Ryuzaki plays Two-Headed King Rex, which seems to confuse Jonouchi. The mutant rex stomps right on the Baby Dragon, killing it instantly. Jonouchi grits his teeth at the death of half his combo, and Ryuzaki finally brings out his trash-mouth by asking if Jonouchi knows ANYTHING about this game. Ryuzaki wasn't about to just let him play a combo, which Jonouchi would have apparently known if he had used his head.

Yuugi and friends are upset by this blow, and Jonouchi looks at the mutant rex like he expects to be its dinner next, thinking it looks super tough. Mai laughs, calling Jonouchi a n00b and declaring that the match is already decided. I'm wondering what that makes Mai, given that she lost to the n00b. Also, didn't she drop the wisdom a few chapters back that duels have a tendency to turn around a lot? She's going to just ignore her own understanding of the game now?

Yuugi presses his hands against the glass and mentally begs Jonouchi not to lose while Jonouchi sweats and looks nervous.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I'm really digging the complexity of Jonouchi's motivations here. I mentioned before that Jonouchi's issue isn't JUST that Shizuka is losing her sight, but that he is powerless to help her. Yami managed to give Jonouchi back some of his power in the situation by giving him the star chip. However, in his game with Mai, Jonouchi's powerlessness came back into play again, because it was the first time his abilities were really challenged. Jonouchi understands that the victory was heavily influenced by Yami, however, and also wants to take those baby steps that will make his future victories truly his own. He's being REALLY courageous here by asking Yami not to help him, because he could have just relied on Yami again. He chose to test himself the hard way. That's more than most people are willing to do for themselves.

Mai's motivations are a tad muddled, on the other hand. The entire reason we're given for why she's trying to beat Jonouchi by proxy through Ryuzaki is that she thinks it would be "immature" to challenge him again. In what way? I suppose this could be code for just feeling embarrassed for losing to him the first time, and not really wanting to ask for a rematch, but if it is, it's a little too obscure a code. The wording should have been such that connected her true feelings to her lie - using the word "irritating" or the phrase "a pain" might have been better than "immature".

As of now, it just look like she arbitrarily decided that she wanted to pit these two guys against one another and watch the pissing match that ensued. Come to think of it, that WOULD be something she might find entertaining...